The 7-1 win saw them consolidate their position just below the breakaway top four sides, with more than enough games in hand to join the rarefied set.

Saturday brought a much stiffer challenge, a trip to Yorkshire’s Aire Valley for a League Cup tie against Premier Division outfit Silsden.

Within a minute the home side had forced keeper Tom Simpson into action.

Their 6ft 9in centre forward Michael Hall won the ball and played it through to Christopher Wademan whose low shot was smothered the Formby keeper. After that the Squirrels dominated possession without being at their fluent best. Kieron Brislen and Luke Holden created half chances for John Prescott before Holden himself was fouled just outside the area.

With the form Marvin Molyneux is in, this was a chance for Formby. He lined up the free kick and struck it well but the defensive wall stood firm and blocked it.

Silsden took the led in the 12th minute. Formby contrived to give the ball away on the left wing where it was picked up by Anthony Lynch. He drove forward and delivered a fast, curling cross that was met on the full by the head of Michael Hall.

As the game approached the half hour Formby had a clear chance. Molyneux won a challenge and Mark Kirby picked up the second ball. His pass sent Luke Holden clear of the Silsden defence. As Hall came out to narrow the angle, Holden rolled the ball past him and watched as it went agonisingly wide of the post.

The game had been lacking genuine quality across the field. Formby brought on Franny Smith for John Edgerton at the start of the second half.

Smith’s introduction had the desired effect on Formby and in the 57th minute they equalised. Smith played an astute pass to John Prescott that split the Silsden defence and sent him clear. Showing admirable composure the in-form striker rolled the ball into the net.

Full Time: Silsden 1 Formby 1

Whatever Formby’s management team said to their players had a galvanising effect as within five minutes the game was won. Three minutes after the restart Molyneux won a tackle in midfield and played the ball to Smith. Smith found Prescott who, with a defender at his back, flicked the ball round him, turned and finished superbly for his ninth goal of the season.

Two minutes later Formby went further ahead. Smith collected the ball 30 yards out and hammered a shot that swerved, dipped and flew past Hall in the Silsden goal.

In the 102nd minute they scored again and this time Prescott was the provider. Jamie Turner took a quick free kick that put Prescott in the clear. He rounded the keeper but was too wide of the goal to finish himself so he looked up and chipped a cross towards Smith who made no mistake with a close range header.